lliilii,(!-'5.!;iH^^ 



^^ 



: Q^^^^; 



<J> " O H ° ' 



£■ ( 



iC\¥: ''"" 



» A 



U' 






^^ 



.0 



,0 







o « S < >^ ^^ 




4 o 



,<b^ 











f 














'^^ 



,-i^ 



<i.^ 



<. 



L ' a 



?. ' * ' '-V -^ y 

qV o N ^- 



sv' 



o 






> 



c' 



\ 



4 o 



f ♦ o 



» I 






o " ° -. (3 



'^ 



\^ 



v^. 



,^-- '"' 






J 




.1 






'-<• 



^^. 






^ <> 



v 






L ' 














,^^^■ 



^»#- "'^c^' f^»^ %v^ .-^^i^- 



, n " 







REMINISCENCES of the 

BUCKNER FAMILY 



'-.Sm-c a 77ey 



By Mrs. Priscilla Aylette-Reakdon 




Compiled. Enlarged and Edited by 

Katherine Edmondson Tuley 






^^^ 






\ 




>< 



/ 



Ui.. 



'^jS-rw, ft.TlrvQ/^jvoc^nXuL^ 






TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THOS. BUCKNER. 



*y Two months ago when these chronicles (the work of several 

summer vacations) were nearing completion, I was much pleased 
to learn that Mr. Wm. D. Buckner of the Virginia stock, of 
which ours is a branch, had for ten years been collecting data fox 
a history of the family, which, with our assistance he wishers to 
j"^' put into book form as soon as possible. It was a gre>at relief 

:j tome, as I had felt that before putting this brief chronicle into 

your hands, I ought to go further back into the genealogical ac- 
count of Thos. Buckner's Virginia ancestors, and this involved 
more time and labor than I felt able to bestow. About the sane 
time Mr. Buckner, hearing of the work I was doing through Dr. 
Dibrell of Little Rock, wrote asking for the use of my manuscript 
for his first book to which I replied that I would feel honored if I 
mightcontribute to his work even in the smallest degree. I un- 
derstand that Mr. Buckner is a Civil Engineer and has taken up this 
family history for the mere love of it. in the interims or business;— 
that he has employed the services of a reliable genealogist and 
author. Mr. Stuart C. Wade of 152 W. Thi street Isew 

York,— and that Mr. Buckner has made himself responsible for 
the printer's bills for the forthcoming book. The gratitude we owe 
him for the work he has thus instituted and carried on, (so far, 
a/one), will no doubt be a strong inducement to each of us to lend 
a hand according to our respective means, helping to bear the ex- 
pense of the research— on the principle that '^Manj a M-cHJc 
Makes a Muck le." 

Our dear kinswoman's reminiscenses were sc^ .me soroeySars 
ago with no thought save of entertaining my husband and myself. 
I have tried to arrange them in some sort of chronological order, 
and have woven through them, in and out. much matter gathered 
from various letters of hers, and delightful talks with her. together 



with some matter of my own, and facts and dates from other 
members of the family. To her also we owe a debt of gratitude 
for the graphic pictures she has given us of the past, and the light 
thrown on that portion of the family life coming under her obser- 
vation. She deserves the first place am )ng our western Buckners 
as "the family historian" of our branch per se. I hope her de- 
lightful reminiscences if I have not spoiled them in the telling — 
may serve to increase your desire to avail yourselves of the more 
complete knowledge to be gained in Mr. Buckner's book of our 
Virginia and English relatives beginning with the Rev. Wm. Buck- 
ner, Chaplain to the Archibishop of Canterbury 1632, and com- 
ing down to those of the present day. 

Katherink E. Tuley. 



A STORY OF THE PAST 



FOR MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN 

^Bl^ Y children have often urged me to write what 
f lU I can remember of my own early days and 
the stories told me by my grandmother. 
Hannah Burton Buckner, and by my own father and 
mother. My father, Simeon Buckner was the sevei-th 
child of Thomas Buckner, who was born in Virginia, 
probably about 1765 or '66 I think, since he married 
Hannah Burton in 1787, who was also a Virginian by 
birth. Eight years later, — in 1795 they gathered to- 
gether their little ones and goods and chattels and emi- 
grated to Kentucky. Other children were born to them, 
twenty in all. They owned a fine farm in Jefferson 
county, not far from Louisville. xiber grand- 

mother as a beautiful old lady, always dressed in black, 
wearing spotless white cap, with high crown and ruffles 
around the face, sitting by theopen fire-place, with its 
tall, brass andirons, and red painted hearth — and I 
remember the reflection of my face in the shining brass 
of the andirons and fender. I remember aiso the 
"Love Apples" — or tomatoes, which *"w in her gar- 
den, and later, it was at her table that x nrst af;.^ Wiem 
cooked, and what a dainty and well furnished table 
she kept. At the time ot which I speak grandfather 
Buckner was dead, and the three youngest children 



Aunt Louisa, Uncle Eliphalet and Aunt Helena were 
living- with her, and Uncle Eliphalet was studying law. 
I was he*- oldest grandchild, and I think a favorite 
one, for I was an absorbed listener to her stories. You 
cap fancy us sitting round the fire, while she told this 
story which was as nearly as I can remember, about as 
follows: 

grandmother's story. 

"When our family emigrated from Virginia to this 
country, we traveled in emigrant wagons, those big 
covered things sometimes called "Schooner" wagons. 
The country was full of Indians, most of them hostile 
to the whites, who were taking possession of the 
hunting. grounds, and some of them had old grudges to 
settle after their encounters with Simon Kenton and 
Rogers Clark, and so the men of our party were well 
armed and constantly on guard. When we camped at 
night the wagons were arranged in horseshoe form, the 
wheels chained together, the cattle in the center and 
the men stc. ard by night, taking turns, two at 

a time. The roads were awful, and we crawled along, 
the feet of horses and oxen sticking in the mud at 
every step. Sometimes we would hear the whoops and 
yells of Indians, which terrified the women and children 
almost to death; for there were several families of us 
traveling together for mutual protection. We had 
been witti'^n the ^orders of Kentucky some time, when 
atc^iye of our r^.nping places, a poor, frightened, hun- 
gry woman came into camp with her clothes hanging 
in rags and tatters, with bare and bleeding feet, and 
a wild look in her eyes which made us afraid of her. 
We gave her food, and some articles of clothing and 

6 



allowed her to take a good sleep, before she told her 
storv. 

••She said she had been captured by thelr.'Uiansthe 
year before, who kept such close watch yn her, that it 
was impossible to escape. During that time she had 
to perform the hardest labor, and was often beaten 
when her strength failed. A few days previous th^„ 
Indian braves had gone on a big hunt leavinj; her 
guarded by an old Indian, who kept close watch on 
her. To put him off his guard she pretended to be 
cheerful and contented. When he finally fell asleep 
she made her escape noiselessly and in all haste. She had 
no idea which way she should go to reach the neartst set- 
tlement, but ran on in frantic haste to escape put nit. 
F'or several days she subsisted on roocs and berries, 
and was growing very weak when she came to a swamp, 
there hearing the whoops ot the Indians in pursuit she 
crawled inside of a big hollow log lying in the swamp 
and prayed fervently for deliverance. She heard the 
Indians running, and one of them stood on the I'^g 
within which she was concealed, wbpo*"v*CT and calling. 
At last she heard them going a waj ,^n^*,-,-. iter a long time, 
when all was quiet, she crawled out and walked for 
hours till she came to a road which she followed till it 
parted in two directions. Fearing that one of them 
might lead her to the Indian camp, she hid in the 
bushes and prayed to be directed. Soon a little bird 
came chirping and fluttering^ about her, then flew off 
up one of the roads. Believing th "-^d had sent t^- 
bird to guide her, she followed that road till it brought 
her to our camp. We were the first white people she 
had seen for a year and she cried for joy — poor thing. 



For awhile she journeyed with us, theft with our assist- 
ance, she finally reached her home and kindred. 

T'^he farm which Thomas Buckner selected was in 
a beautiful ^nd fertile region twenty miles from what 
is now the city of Louisville, but which must have 
bee" a small town then as it was founded in 1778, only 
rvjventeen years before grandfather emigrated to Ken- 
t\J.'rky. On that farm his children were raised, and 
later 7 myself was born the«*e. I have heard some of 
the aunts and uncles say it was a busy community, 
where besides the farm work, in which grandfather 
and the bigger boys took part, as well as the negroes, 
there vvas the weaving, spinning, dyeing, knitting and 
sew-'ng to be done for that large family of whites and 
Jiacks. The shoemaker in those days traveled from 
farm to farm making and repairing shoes for the fam- 
ily, for his board and wages, and he must have found 
the Buckner farm the most profitable one in that re- 
gion. Uncle Ben one of the youngest sons used to tell 
of how the mischievous ones, of whom he wasthe leader, 
would beg the shoemaker to put "squeaks" in father's 
mother's anv. other's shoes, that the children 

might have warning of their approach, when they were 
in mischief. For all that they grew up a fine looking, 
energetic and capable set of men and women much re- 
spected in the communities in which they lived. After 
my father and mother had settled in Louisville, a dist- 
ant con^;n of the family called Col. Nick or Nicholas 
buckner used to come to our house and he told us 
mcxny stories abv. . the Indians. He was a great In- 
dian fighter, and hated "the red devils" as he called 
them, and we children were spell- bound listeners to his 
tales. He had a dramatic way of acting them out, 



taking aim with hi", gun at an imaginary foe in a way 
which thrilled us to the marrow. One of these was 
about the 

CHINEWORTH SPRING MASSACRE. 

Not far from the Buckner farm was a beauti^^ul 
spring of water called the '* Chineworth Spring* 
from the family who owned the place. One day a re- 
port reached Col. Nick that a party of Indians had 
been seen near Chineworth place. In great haste he 
started with his company of Indian fighters, armed 
with shot guns and rifles for the Chineworth farm. No 
Indians were found at the Spring, but when they 
reached the cabin, seeing no signs of life about they 
pushed open the door and there to their horror saw Mr. 
Chineworth on the floor dead, and his murdered chil- 
dren around him — all had been scalped. One child only 
had escaped death. Pursuing their search they found 
in another room this child, a little girl, trying to kindle a 
flame by blowing on a few coals left in the fireplace. 
With sobs she told of hearing the dreadful cries and 
blows, and knew that the Indians were killing them all 
and had slipped out ot bed on the side next the wall and 
hid behind the bed curtain, by which means she es- 
caped the tomahawk and scalping knife of the Indians 
who passed through the room without seeing her. Be- 
ing asked about her mother she said "They are all 
dead but me!" Pursuing their search they toun»J i^ 
the yard traces of blood, following ^ they reache'^ 

the spring house, a rude cabin built over the outlet to 
the spring in which milk and butter were kept. Here they 
found Mrs. Chineworth covered with blood from a 
wound in the body, and her head scalped. She said 





tililXtAlXJUl9*XMTXlJI^MW»miim 



the Indians drove a spear through her body as she ran^ 
which pinned her to the earth, and taking her scalp 
idi: ner for dead. Bye and bye she returned to con- 
sciousness and managed to pull the spear from her 
body, then swooned again; but finally crawled o.i hands 
an-^ kuces to the spring, bathed her wounds a'^d with 
d piece of her skirt managed to bind them up and 
waited for help. 

About forty years later there passed through Little 
Rock a lady missionary bound for the reservation of 
the Indian Nation, where she was going to devote her- 
self to the civilization and conversion of the Indians. 
She stopped at Mrs. Ros^ald Beebe's house, where 
she told them the gruesome story of the massacre at 
Chineworth Spring as told by Col. Nick B. She was 
the child who escaped the fate of the rest of the fam- 
ily — going in the spirit of Christian love and forgive- 
ness to help the race that had killed hers. 

How little Col. Buckner could have imagined such 
a P.nale to his story! 

Grandfather Buckner died in 1827 when I was 
only six years old, so I remember nothing very dis- 
tinctly about him, except his death. When his chil- 
dren were grown and most of them married, he sold his 
farm to a man named Hoffman and moved into Louis- 
ville. I remember that my mother and Aunt Priscilla 
Tuley once took me with them to the old farm to visit 
th*^ €^aiViy who bought it. The house was a two story 
|^)rick and the fa-^ was large and well cultivated. I 
remCmber more aistinctly the town house however 
with its garden and fruit trees. The soldiers' barracks 
were not far away, and I had a wholesome terror of 
the soldiers and ran away when I saw them, as I had 

10 



been told they were bad men. I remember distinctly 
when Lafayette was in Louisville, which I think was 
not long alter grandfather's death, so I must have 
been between six and seven years old. I remember 
as he passed our house how my mother caught me upin 
her arms and held me so that I could see the gre^t 
man for whom all good Americans felt such gratitude 

and love. 

I think my grandfather must have lived rather 
handsomely for those times — for I remember he kept 
a carriage and horses and that my mother and I were 
upset in it once going to camp-meeting at Bear Grass 
Creek, which has made me timid to this day about 
riding in a close carriage. After grandfather went to 
Louisville he was elected High Sheriff of Jefferson 
Co., a very honorable position in those days, for which 
the best men were sought; you may be sure he filled it 
worthily, for he had a high sense of honor and justice. 
He was a tall man with a red head and a quick temper 
but a just man when his temper was over, in illustra" 
tration of which I will tell you a st/^v'tbia by Uncle 
Ben which I had from Cousin KateTuley, , who heard 
it from his own lips. 

UNCLE ben's story 

One day, said Uncle Ben, my father got into a 
heated discussion with a man on the streets of Louis- 
ville, and tor some insulting remark made by the id.t- 
ter, my father knocked him down ar ' wished him 
severely. Whereupon the man sued him for a«tsauit 
and battery. I was present and saw the whole thing, 
and was summoned by my father to testify in his de- 
fense without any previous examination as to the 

11 



character of my testimony. Greatly to his surprise 
my testimony went dead against him as the first ag- 



ressoi. So the other man won his suit and father 
had to pay the fine and costs. 1 thought I saw fire in 
the old man's eyes as I told my story, and I tell you 
as Soon as I stepped down off that witness stand I got 
<)ut of theie in a hurry, and was cutting around a cor- 
ner to escape the thrashing I expected when I felt a 
slap on my shoulder and turned to face my father. 
And what do you think he saui? ^'^en my son! Fm 
proud of you! Fm proud of you! You told the truth and 
shamed the devil, if you did beat your father in that 
suit, — you dog you! Now sir you go straight to my 
tailor and tell him to make you a fine broadcloth suit 
and charge it to me, do you hear?" With a hearty 
handshake we separated and away I went, thanking 
my stars I had missed the thrashing, and mighty glad 
to get the present. I won't say but what the water got 
into my eyes, too — as I turned away. 

THE TRAGIC WEDDING FEAST. 

In iS^Zf" — Seven 'ears after grandfather's death a 
dreadful tragedy was enacted in the Buckner family 
which shook the whole city of Louisville — it was atthe 
wedding of Helena the youngest daughter of grandfather 
who was married to a Mr. Clark at her mother's h<juse, 
rather quietly. Among the retrcshments served Vxcis 
•'Flojiting Island" or custard, oi uhich there were two 
large kettles. <^ne of these was set auay in a cool place, 
and was not u..^ atthe weddmg Next day however, 
it was partaken of by the famny, and portions were 
sent to the houses of several ot graiulmother's married 
children. That night grandmother was taken ill and 

12 



shortly after Aunt Adeline Foster, then Aunt Emily 
Fontaine, also a son of Uncle Milton Buckner and some 
others I don't know how many, were affected. The 
symptoms grew so alarming that doctors and friends 
were running to the aid of the sufferers, and the wild- 
est alarm prevailed. The night was dark and the dogs 
of the neighborhood set up a doleful howling, and as 
the death of first one member of the family and then 
another was announced a terror seized that part of the 
city, and spread like wild fire. The wildest rumors 
prevailed — "It was cholera." "The wells were poisoned 
by the negroes!" "An uprismg of the negroes would 
follow," it was said, but finally as no more deaths fol- 
lowed, it sim.mered down to the statement that "thecas- 
tard was poisoned by the negroes." Aunt Louisa, 
however, who was present and knew all the facts (she 
was then unmarried and living with her mother) says 
that the kettle containing the custard which caused the 
tragedy was of brass and it was supposed had corroded 
in the twenty-four or more hours in which it had be.rn 
set away. It is to her I am indebted f'^j^ -» description 
of the horrors of that night wh>ch ]ai(j '-vV dear old 
grandmother and all the others who had eaten of it save 
one cousin now living in St. Louis who merely tasted 
it. Long was that night of terror remembered by the 
old citizens of Louisville. 

My father was at this time owner of a line of boats 
and captain of one of them. He was absent from 
home at this time, his boat had be'"- '^*'ound in the 
Arkansas river for three months anu he had heard 
nothing from home. After he got oflF the sandbar he 
was one day hailed by one of his old Pilots on another 
boat. This man was named Shaddock. When the 

13 



boats were landed Shaddock said "Captain Buckner 
when did you hear from home?" "Not for three 
mouths," said my father. "Come ashore then, I have 
something^ to tell you." They seated themselves on a 
big log facing the boats, and Shaddock began hesi- 
tatingly — "So you have not heard about your sister 
Helena's marriage?" "No!" "Then, Captain, prepare 
yourself for bad news! At the wedding poison was 
put in the food, and your mother, your sisters, (Mrs. 
Foster and Mrs. Fontaine) are dead, several children 
and a servant, and — and — your wife and children — all 
dead! At that my father fell to the ground as if struck 
by a cannon ball, and never knew the truth till he got 
home some time later and clasped us all in his arms, 
the truth being that none of our family were there 
else I might not have been here to tell the story. 

Some time before this tragedy, my father having 
gone into the mercantile business in Louisville had 
failed along with many others. It was at the time when 
so many of the United States Banks broke in 1832 I be- 
lieve. He an'^.-yj' mother were Whigs and ardent admir- 
ers of Henry c)av- Tb.ey thought that the failure of the 
banks and the misfortunes of the country were due to 
General Jackson and the Democratic party. My mother 
was a woman of a great deal of character and of very 
pronounced views — political and otherwise. She had 
a kind heart and cheerful disposition, and was idolized 
by her nephews and nieces who considered "Aunt 
Nancy" their »" ' --'? from parental displeasure and their 
best friend. She was a Buckner before marriage, and 
she and my father were cousins. She was a daughter 
of Philip Buckner and Elizabeth Watson Buckner, 
his wife, both born in Virginia, where my mother 

14 






/V 



herself was born in 1803. I do not know the date of 
Elizabeth Watson's marriage to Philip Buckn'^r. The 
bible of the latter which was given to my mother, 
and contained such entries was unaccountably lost 
when we moved to Clark Co., Arkansas. They had 
four children — Aylette, Jane, Harry and Nancy Wat 
son Buckner, my dear mother. Aylette the eldest be- 
came guardian to my mother on the death of grand- 
father Philip. All of our branch of this family were 
fond of the name of Aylette, the boys were apt to have 
it for the first name, the girls for a middle nume — 
hence my mother called me Priscilla for my Aunt ?ris- 
cilla Buckner and Aylette for the middle name. It 
seems that at an early ^^riod Judith Aylette (whose first 
husband was a Hawes (daughter of Wm. Aylette liv- 
ing in King Wm. Co., Va., married Wm. Buckner oi "the 
Neck" in Carolina Co., and after th^t, there were many 
marriages between the Aylettes and Buckners. There 
are some of the Aylettes in V'*'ginia now, for I have 
seen in the New York Herald a noticr '-^ a fancy ball 
in Richmond where a Miss Mary ■' ^ appeared in 

the dress and jewels of her ancestress Lady Mary Ay- 
lette the wife of one of the Governors of that period. 



MY mother's story 



My mother used to tell me this story of the old 
days in Virginia during the Revolutionary war, told 
her by /^<?r mother who was EHzabe*^^ Walson before 
she married Philip Buckner. It wa^ something like 
this: 

The family was living on a plantation in the 
eastern part of the state, in what county I know 
not, — it may have been Spottsylvania Co., since 

16 



Thomas Buckner is said to have come from there and 
Philip my grandfather was related to him — but it was 
certainly In the eastern part of Virginia. There were a 
few Tories in that county though most of the people 
were ardent supporters of the cause of Independence. 
You remember that Virginia was the first colony, even 
before Massachusetts, to enter her protest against the 
levying of unjust taxes on the Colonies by Parliament. 
John Fiske in his "Virginia and her neighbors" makes 
thiscleir. You will find it also in Howe's "Historical 
Colleccions of Virginia." There had been rumors of 
a probable descent of a detachment of the British 
amy on that locality and the people were uneasy and 
cVoubled, About this time a report spread that some 
British soldiers had been seen m the neighborhood. 
Greatly excited, immediate preparations were made to 
save their property from the depredations of the en- 
emy, and her father Mr. Watson hastily gathered to- 
gether his stock of cattle, taking one or two servants 
with him, and leavir gthe rest to protect the family, he 
hastened t me safe place among the moun- 

tains. He hao iiOv jeen gone long when a British offi- 
cer in full uniform rode up to the gate and, dismount- 
ing, was seen talking earnestly to one of the negroes. 
Presently he approached the house and demanding ad- 
mittance, was shown into the best room where her 
mother awaited him. She rose and greeted him with 
cold civility. He stated that he wished to see the 
owner of the ^ ^ation. She replied that her husband 
was absent and could not be seen. He said he had ur- 
gent business with him — what time would he return? 
She, believing he meant to capture him or do him some 
harm, replied somewhat evasively. "Then" said he "I 

16 



will wait till he comes." And pleading great fatigue 
threw himself on a sofa and covered his eyes with his 
hand. My grandmother left the room with as much 
dignity as she could command though sorely troubled 
as to the meaning of this strange visit. The news pen- 
etrated to the negro quarters, and an old darky whom 
his master had charged with the special care of his 
young mistress, suddenly appeared in the doorway of 
the room with his master's drawn sword in his hand. 
Believing the stranger was able at any moment to rise 
and slay the household, (as he observed he was only 
feigning to sleep,) he never took his eyes from him. 
The hours dragged on wearily and still the ofificer slept, 
or feigned to, and the faithful servant stood guard, till 
at length the Master arrived and was soon closeted 
with the intruder. He at once avowed that the uniform 
he wore was a disguise, assumed for the purpose of 
learning how many tories there were in that vicinity. 
That he was an officer in the continental army, acting 
under orders of his superior officer, and ivas in fact on 
a secret mission. He mentioned also that he had been 
talking with one of Mr. Watson's servants, and that he, 
believing him to be a British officer, had revealed to 
him the place where he, Mr. Watson had concealed his 
stock, also their number and value. "But there is one 
old fellow that you can certainly trust,'' he added, "the 
one who stood guard over me with a drawn sword. I 
was afraid to close my eyes" — he la'" '^'^d— "for fear 
he'd chop my bead off." Being assu.v-^ of the truth 
ot his story, Mr. Watson presssd him to stay all night 
and my grandmother made ample amends for her for- 
mer lack of hospitality. 

There usedto be a number of mother's branch of the 

17 



Buckners living in Greensburg, Elizabethtown and ad- 
jacent parts of the interior of Kentucky. In the sum- 
mer of 1837, when I was sixteen I spent my vacation 
visiting among them. Jndge Richard Aylette Buckner 
of Greensburg was one of them. He was a United 
:itates Senator in Andrew Jackson's time, and was dis- 
tinguished both ?.z a lawyer and judge. His wife was a 
Miss Taylor and their eldest son was named Aylette B. 
his second son Richard Aylette Buckner both lawyers. 
Richard Aylette Buckner was afterwards a judge and 
lived in Lexington, Kentucky. There were two other 
sons Arthur and Luther B. and two daughters, the eld- 
est of whom married Mr. Barrett and lived in St. Louis^ 
Mo. The youngest daughter was named Betty. They 
were a charming family. 

The sister of Judge Richard Aylette Buckner, senior, 
married a Taylor also, and her eldest son Richard Aylette 
Taylor was my mother's first lover when she was go- 
ing to school and boarded at their house. Years 
after this Richard S. Taylor, having moved to Arkan- 
sas, rod*: 40 mile*; to see my mother when she was in 
her last illness at our house, in 1851. But she was too 
ill to be seen and died shortly afterward. Judge Buck- 
ner told me after he moved to Arkansas that he had 
a perfect record of the Buckner and Aylette families, 
and the coat of arms of the latter. His granddaughter 
living in Little Rock furnished me with this record of 
the births l aths in the family of my mother's 

old sweetheart. 

Richard Aylette Taylor born 1802, married Rebecca W. William- 
son 1824. 

ISSUE 

John Young Taylor, born 1826 — died 1846 unmarried— 20 yean 
old. 

18 



Daniel White Taylor, born 1828 — died 1846— unmarried — IS years 

old. 
Sally McGee Taylor, born 1830 — died 1862 — married B.J. Emby — 

1847 — married at 17— died at 32 years. 
Richard Aylette Taylor, Jr., born 1833— died 1862— married Juliet 

A. Dowdle — 1853. 
Catherine Buckner Taylor, born 1835— died 1852— married Geo. W. 

Vaden, 1852 — married and died same year. 
Rebecca Aylette Taylor, born 1840— died 1858 married Robert A. 

Dowdle 1858 — died same year. 

My mother's brother Aylette married Mis*^ More- 
head of Tennessee and they had three children, Tur- 
ner. Simon Bolivar, and a little girl. I remember the 
first visit I made in company with my mother to Uncle 
Aylette's. We travelled by stage. The house I re- 
member was on a knob or hill near Green river, Hurt 
County, Kentucky. It was a substantial and commo- 
dious log house. In the front room hung the portraits 
of Uncle Aylette and Aunt Elizabeth. They had an 
old house servant, Uncle Jerry who had a superstitious 
awe of those portraits, for whenever he moved, their 
eyes watched him. I can hear him say now: ''*/e 
needn't tell dis child dat dem pictures ain't alive! 
Don't ye see how dem eyes follows meev'y place I go! 
Fore God! Pse afeard ov* em I is! There was a loom 
in one of the back rooms and I remember seeing my 
mother weaving a counterpane to take home with her. 
I remember the great forest trees about the house and 
how Uncle Aylette lifted up Cousin Bolivar and put 
him on a tall stump telling him to m?ke a speech, tl*^ 
was a little fellow then, about my a^ ^.id when he re- 
cited "You'd scarce expect one of my age" etc., I 
looked at him with admiring eyes. 

The last time I was there was in 1837 ^"^^ then 

18 



my uncle's home was in the valley. He had a large 
house, and owned an iron foundry and was considered 
a rich man for the time. The boys had grown tall, 
were well educated and refined in manner. I was 
charmed with Cousin Bolivar's pigeons, which would 
come flocking about him when he fed them, as tame as 
chickens. When I left, Cousin Turner v/ho was the 
eldest, was my escort to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, 
and Cousin Bolivar from there to Louisville. This was 
the lasi I saw of the boys for many years. Later 
Cousin Bolivar entered West Point and remained till 
he grSiduated. He was afterwards in the Mexican war 
and was at the capture of the City of Mexico, 

His father, mother and sister were with me in Little 
Rock at the time, for I was then married and they used 
to read his letters to me, which I found very interest- 
ing. After the war was over he visited me on his way 
to West Point. Cousin Bolivar afterwards married a 
Miss Kingsbury of Chicago who was I believe well off 
and some years after her death he married a Mi s 
Clayburn of Viiginia, who I hear is a devoted wife. 
His public career is part of the history of our country, 
as General Buckner on the Confederate side in the 
Civil war then as Governor of Kentucky — and later as 
candidate for the Vice Presidency of the United States, 
nominated bytheGold Democrats and defeated by Re- 
publicans— of which defeatheandthe Presidential candi- 
dale had a full assurance before they consented to run. 
He continue*^ *■ -e in his father*s old log house I have 
heard, though t^iuOably this is only in tne summer, as 
I believe he has also a residence in Louisville. A re- 
porter who visited him in the old family home describes 
it as tastefully adorned with many interesting old rel- 

so 



ics, and there he smokes his corn-cob pipe in peace. 
It is many years since we have met and it is not likely 
I shall ever see him again. 

Cousin Turner grew to be one of the tallest men I 
have ever seen. He had to stoop in entering any ordi- 
nary door. Though born in the back woods of Ken- 
tucky he had a good knowledge of Latin and knew 
some Greek. His voice was pleasant ar.d his manner 
gentle; but he was a man of strong and independent 
ways of thinking, quite original. When his brother 
Bolivar was stationed at West Point he invited Turner 
to make him a visit. Turner said as this was his first 
visit north he wanted to see the country and he pre- 
ferred to walk. And so he did — every step of the way 
from Hart County to West Point, were the officers re- 
ceived him with open arms. 

When Uncle Aylette Buckner moved at length to 
southern Arkansas he sent the cattle and servants on 
foot, but he and his family went by carriage or stage 
with the exception of Cousin Turner; he put his ser- 
vant on his horse, a fine blooded one, preferring to 
walk the whole way, "and see the country." 

When he reached Little Rock he was detained 
some weeks; meantime his servants encamped near 
town and he set them to work making charcoal, aiid 
was sometimes seen driving the charcoal wagon into 
town himself. His maxim was "all work is honorable'' 
and he lived up to that principle. I think Cooper 
might have taken him for one of his hf'-oes in his novels. 
He made more than one trip to Caluo».iia on foot witii 
servants and cattle. At length when crossing the 
Arkansas river at Fort Smith, though an expert swim- 
mer, in attempting to rescue one of his herdsmen, both 

21 



were drowned together. The officers at the Fort bur- 
ied him there with their own dead. So perished a no- 
ble hearted man in his prime. ' 
I have spoken of spending my summer vacation ^ 
with my mother's relatives in Elizabethtown in 1837. 
It was while I was there that an unexpected summons 
came for me to return home at once. My dear mother 
wrote that my, father had been awarded the contract by 
the United States Government to remove the Chero- 
kee and Seminole Indians to the large tract assigned 
them known afterwards as Indian Territory. Vicks- 
burg was to be the point of debarkation, and he thought 
the time required might be about three years; so, as he 
wanted his family near him, we were to remove to Lit- 
tle Rock, Arkansas. Cousin Bolivar escorted me home 
and I remember my father was greatly surprised to 
see how rapidly I was developing. "Almost a young 
lady Nanny!" I heard him say to my mother. He 
charged her to fit me out with everything I required and 
accordingly I had all and more than I needed given me. 
Our family then consisted of three children besides my 
mother and father. I, Priscilla, being the eldest, next 
my brother Perry then 14, and my sister Josephine 
Preston the youngest. My mother was very busy for 
some weeks making preparations for our journey while 
my father was engaged in purchasing boats for the re- 
movalof the Indians. He bought six steamboats. Ire- 
member only the names of three "The Kentucky," **The 
Cinderella'' and "The DeKalb." The namesof theoth- 
erscan be foun"' r*ope's book. I had once before had < 
a perilous ride on one of my father's boats, the Daniel 
Boone, purchased about 1825 or 1826, when my father 
started to NewOrleans with my mother and myself and I 

S9 






was not anxious to try another. These boats were very 
different from our boats of the present day. They were 
very slow, and it took one month to go to New Orleans 
and return to Louisville. The ladies' cabin was in the 
hull of the boat, and in the gentlemen's cabin the state- 
rooms resembled our sleeping cars when the berths are 
made up at night. They were concealed by curtains 
which were let down at night, and looped back in th»_ 
daytime. We got safely down the Ohio, but after we 
entered the Mississippi, the Daniel Boone ran on a 
snag somewhere, I don't remember the place, and sunk. 
I remember they had to tie the boat up to some trees 
on the shore, to keep her head out of water, while the 
passengers were got on shore, the women and children 
first of course. Tents were pitched for our accomiPiO- 
dation, and we had to stay there several days till a boat 
came along and took us back to Louisville. I remem- 
ber we were devoured by mosquitoes in our tents. 

It was on "The Cinderella" that we traveled leis- 
urely and safely to our new home, having abundance 
of time to cultivate the acqaintanceof many Little P^ock 
people going home after their summer "/« the north'"' 
as St. Louis and Louisville were called. TViere were 
the Johnsons, Ashleys, Peays, Cunninghams, Fultons, 
Trapnells, Reals. Clendennings, Reardons, Waits, No- 
lands and Hempsteads, besides Mr. Cook, Col. Fowler, 
Capt. Pike and others. We went to the hotel kept by 
Major Peay and wife, old friends of my father. We 
were visited and cordially treated by many delightful 
people both at the hotel and at c ^ext home which 
was with Dr. Watkins. The population of Little Rock 
then was somewhere between three and five thousand, 



23 



and strangers were coming from Missouri, Kentucky 
Maryland and Virginia. 

Alter my father had fulfilled his contract with the 
Government for which he received $8o,ooo, with $40,- 
000 more for the demurrage of his boats, he purchased 
a larr^e cotton plantation called "The Rich Woods," not 
fo/ from Archidelphia on the Ouachitah (or Washita 
river) or rather 7 miles from there. On the high ridge 
running through the center he built our house. On 
this ridge also were the garden, orchard, negro cabins, 
and the cotton gin. A lane a mile long led from the 
woods to the house, and another back of the house led to 
Archidelphia. The country folks travelled this road 
and often stopped to get a meal or to beg for a little 
coffee, sugar or medicine, which my father with his 
open handed ways never refused, 

I have a vivid remembrance of our first arrival atthe 
plantation. We made the journey from Little Rock 
a distance of one hundred miles, by stage, till we were 
within fifteen miles of Rich Wood. There the over- 
seer met us with saddle horses for the party, and we 
proceeded on our journey much interested in the new 
scenery. When we reached the place we found the 
colored folks lined up on each side the lane, the men 
on one side and the women on the other, dressed in 
their Sunday clothes, the latter with gay bandanas on 
their heads. As we rode down the lane the men doffed 
their hs^ts, and the women ducked a courtesy, with 
cheerful salutations -"Howdy Marster," "Howdy Mis- 
tus'*— and to me ..nh broad smiles "Pooty little Mis 
tus!" The Overseer had arranged this spectacle I sus- 
pect, though it was quite in consonance with negro ways 
My father and mother were kind to their slaves, and I 

24 



think the negroes probably found no reason to regret 
the change of masters. Here I looked for the first 
time on the cotton fields stretching on both sides rhe 
lane. 

On this plantation a few years later I was married 
to your father Lambert Jeffries Reardon of Little Rock 
formerly from Baltimore, Md. Mr. Reardon was 
a tall, handsome man with soft brown eyes and of good 
family and we loved each other dearly. My father 
gave me five negroes for my marriage portion. By 
this time our means were becoming restricted, my 
father in his lavish way having loaned 3o,ooo dollars to 
the Vice President of the United States, Col. Richard 
Johnson and later he had to pay a security debt for 
|)6.000.oo and another for ;^ .^0,000 with various gifts to 
the family, and other like matters and it was not long 
before he became bankrupt. 

Before this came to pass my brother Perry had 
been sentto Mr HallowelTsschool in Alexandriaand my 
sister Josephine to an expensive school m Washington. 
There Col. Washington was made her guardian. He was 
very kind to her and claimed kin with her. I ha.ve since 
learned that a grand daughter of Wm. Bucknerof "the 
Neck" married a John Washington in 1770 and that 
there have been several intermarriages between the 
two families since then. My brother Perry who v/as al- 
ways a good student and stood high in mathematics 
and Latin at his school was able to enter the Naval 
Academy at Annapolis in 1841. P '^ first cruise wason 
the Marion to the West Indies, theu ..^ was transferred 
to the Bainbridge and went to the Coast of Atrica, af- 
ter that he was for three years on the old Constitution 
where he made the tour of the world. During all this 

2« 



time he was studying while the necessary buildings 
were being erected at Annapolis, at the end of which 
time he graduated with honor. This was the Consti- 
tution's last cruise and my brother's last voyage. For 
nine years after this he acted as teacher and after 
awhile as Professor of Mathematics. He had spent 
much time on the Coast of Africa and at the Philippine 
Islands and I have a large package of most interesting 
letters sent me by him from these and other points, 
also many curiosities from foreign parts. He was con- 
sidered one of the best Navigators in the Navy at 
that time. During the Civil War, he remained in ^^ 
the service of the United States. He thought se<es-* 
sion v/rong, but his heart was with his kindred and 
friends in the South and I think the struggle be- 
tween duty and love broke his heart. He was Cap- 
tain in the Navy when he died in 1869 and was put 
on the retired list about two months before that event- 
After my marriage to Mr. Reardon we built us a 
comfortable two story house commanding a beautiful 
vie vV of the Ouachitah River, and the green woods crown- 
ing the hills, with an occasional house in view. The 
long howl of the wolv.cs and the song of the Whippor- 
will lulled us to sleep at night. Four children came to 
keep us company in time; — my two boys Buckner and 
James (Buck and Jian) and my two girls Annie and 
Lallie who were to be my unspeakable comfortand stay 
in old age. We were very happy in each other and ou'' 
children. About 1S43 "^7 dear father while on a visit 
to Louisville di*" the home of Aunt Louisa Hugh-^s 

aged forty-six years. This was the beginning of ma^^. 
partings for me. Between the years of 1843 ^"^^ 1855 I 
had lost father, mother, sister and husband; none left 



26 



^l 



of our immediate family but my brother Perry, myself 
and my husband's brother and they left mesomeyea^s 
later. Sometime before Mr. Reardon's death in 1846, 
he assumed editorial charge of a newspaper in Little 
Rock, called the Banner, which he continued to edit 
for some years, He was considered a fine writer. Af- 
terward the name of the paper was changed to '*The 
True Democrat." Later Mr. Reardon accepted the 
office of Commissioner ot StateSwamp Lands which he 
filled till his death. My two boys Buckner and Jan^esV 
(Buck and Jim) died in 1892, my darling Annie Raleigh 
died in 1895 leaving her six sons. Lallie my youngest 
was married to Dr. J. A. Dibrell, kindest and truest of 
men, to whom and to her two sons John and .};S<fl»«s 
she was the tenderest of wives and mothers, like my 
dear Annie. She too, has now withdrawn her sweet face 
from the home which she blest with her presence 
What a meeting there will be in the sweet-bye-and-bye. 

I neglected to say that my dear mother remained 
at "Rich Wood" some time after Fas death, then went 
back to Louisville her old home but at last consented 
to make my home her own. 

But now I want to tell you something about 

SLAVERY TIMES 

In Louisville Ma hired by the year a young col- 
ored girl named Mary, who had a little girl named 
Susan — , Mary's husband being ' 'ned by someone 
else. When Ma was about to breatv up housekeeping 
and come to me, Mary's master offered to sell Mary 
and her child to her, but Ma refused saying that she 
did not want to part husband and wife. When Mary 
was consulted however, she seemed to be perfectly will- 

27 



ingto belong to Ma and to go South with htr^ provided 
ma would duy her husband and take him along. But the 
husband stoutly refused to leave Louisville unless forced 
to do so. This refusal made Mary angry, and as she 
was really attached to my mother she went without a 
mrrmur. Afterwards she became my property, and I 
always found her a trusty and loyal servant, a good 
cook, and kind hearted, though hot tempered. 

And here I want to say that I often ask myself 
whether freedom and education have made the negro 
morally better. I confess that they disappoint me 
greatly when I find that the educated ones can't be 
trusted as we used to trust our servants in slavery times. 
When my mother was living alone on the plantation 
with the negroes she could sleep securely with neither 
bolt or bar on the door; and she used to drive in safety 
many miles along lonely roads to visit me, alone with 
her negre coachman. What white woman in the South 
would dare to do such a thing now'i If slavery is a 
wrong, which I do not deny, yet it bred in our colored 
people such loyalty, such unselfish devotion to the 
families of their masters, such trustworthiness as I have 
never found in those of their race born in freedom. 
No race could have behaved better than they did dur- 
ing the Cival War. No insurrections, no outrages, but 
the most extraordinary fidelity to the women and chil- 
dren left to their care, while sons and fathers were 
-away on the battle field. 

One Christii remember Mary came to me to 

ask a favor. She wanted to have a dance in my kitchen, 
and to have the house servants on some of the neigh- 
boring plantations — "none o' yo' common low down 
niggers" and she "wouldn't give me no trouble," and 



't't 



% 



*'Wheeler" (her brother) would brings her the e^gs and 
sugar etc., she needed." I gave my consent willingly 
and Mary went to work with a will. When we built 
the house I planned for a fine large kitchen, and 
Mary soon had that floor and the tables snowy white, 
and the tin and copper vessels shining brightly among 
the bunches of holly evergreen stuck here and there. 
I had given her permission to use the dining room and 
my best linen and silver, knowing she would take good 
care of everything. Perhaps I had a little pride in 
having ^«r servants outshine those on the other planta- 
tions. When the table was set Mary proud and de- 
lighted, called me to come and see it, and I muyt say 
it was beautiful. In the middle of the table there 
seemed to be the largest cake I had ever se^m, from 
the center of which sprang a branch of evergreen, 
sprinkled with flour which looked as if powdered with 
snow. "Why Mary!'' I said, "what a big cake! They 
can't eat all that!" "Laws, Miss P'rcilla! that ai'i^t no 
cake! 'taint nothin' in the worl' but cawn breai\ -^^Vi 
them niggers is goin' to eat ever' single mos-sel of it, 
cause it's aig-bred an' I got some little cakes for 'em 
'sides that!" Away into the night I heard the strains 
of the fiddle, the calls of the fiddler, the thumping of 
feet on the floor and the hearty laughter. Next morn- 
ing Mr. Reardon said to me, '*Priscilla, I wish some of 
those Northern abolitionists who are so concerned about 
the down-trodden negroes South could have looked 
into this dining room and that ki.. last night!" A 

few more Christmases came and went and then the old 
home where we had spent such happy years together 
was broken up and we went to Little Rock to live. 
Susan, (Mary's daughter) had grown to be a smart 



handy girl and T kept them both, though only one was 
needed. After my husband's death one day Mary said 
to me "Miss P'scilla I wish you'd please ma'am let me 
go an' hire myself out? You can get along with Susan, 
and ! might as well be gettin' some wages and bringin' 
it 'co you." So I told her she could be looking around 
and if she could find agoodhome I was willing. A few 
days afterwards she came and told me that old Mr. 
Fenne, an old bachelor, wanted her to work for him. 
She said he had no one to work for him and he was 
"liven' like a hog," but she said she would clean the 
house up and make things look decent and comfort- 
able, and he offered her good wages and she thought 
he would treat her well. She went and after awhile he 
wanted to buy Mary of me, and as Mary was willing I 
sold her, but kept Susan. He gave Mary her freedom 
and she lived with him as his wife till his death — and 
no wiffc could have taken better care of him. This 
wen<"_ on for some time till he was taken with a severe 
iViness and Mr. Fenne sent for a lawyer who was also a 
friend. He had a large amount ot property for the times 
and he wanted a will drawn in Mary's favor. The law- 
yer remonstrated and asked if he did not want to leave 
some to his relatives. No! he did not! he had left 
home when he was a boy, had worked hard and saved, 
with no help from his relatives. Mary had done more 
for him than anybody else and she should have it. She 
was the only pers*- - in the world that cared for him. 
The lawyer was j.. ^paring to obey when Mary entered 
her protest "Look here Ole Marse! where that brother 
o' yourn you tol' me about? Didn't you say he helped 
youoncet? Taint right for you to give «// that money 
to me. What I goin' to do with all that money? Now 

30 



jist you give him some of it — please Sir?" "Well, all 
right Mary, I reckon your right!" And then she men- 
tioned some one else who had claims on him and pre- 
vailed on him to divide with them also — and it was 
done as she said. After his death she still had more 
than enough for herself and her two children (for she 
had one child by him named Mary Fenne.) She 
bought her a home in Little Rock, and when Susan and 
Mary married she built homes for them in her own 
yard. Mary married Rector, an educated negro, who 
went to West Point but failing in his examination got 
a place in the Post Office. 

Mary used often to tell me that that she had never 
known a happy day since she came into her property, 
and that she was happier when she belonged to me 
than at any other time ot her life. She died suddenly, 
of heart disease, one day in going from a neighbor's 
home to her own. I was sent for but found she was 
past help. 

POOR JOE 

Before I stop tonight I want to tell you of another 
instance of the fidelity of our slaves, one owned by my 
dear mother, who called himself Joe Buckner. She 
bought him in Kentucky, after my father's death, and 
after herdeath he became the property of my Sister Jose- 
phine. My health being bad Mr. Reardon thought a 
change would do me good, and we went together to An- 
napolis tosee my brother Perry then <"ioned there. On 
leaving home my last charge was "Jot t^xe good care of 
Miss Josephine and the children!" 'Til take^^'^^keer 
of 'em Miss 'Scilla Sho! And he did till unfortunately 
poor Joe got into a fight with another darkey and was 

31 



struck on the head with a hoe. He was sick for several 
days and sister called in our family physician. While 
she was talkinor with him Joe became suddenly and vio- 
lently insane. His screams were so loud and terrifying 
that it vva.s not long before at least a hundred people 
were gathered in the yard. My sister and children fled 
in terror to a neighbor'^ house, and Joe was put into a 
straight jacket and confined. A few days afterward 
Mr. Reardon andl returned home. Somehow Joe man- 
aged to make his escape after he had quieted down 
and came straightway home, and for a long time we 
were kept in a constant state of fear and anxiety about 
him. But at length on sister's marriage to Mr. Clem- 
ents of Maryland, her husbandsold him down theriver, 
though Joe seemed to have recovered and only had oc- 
casional spells. He always made his way home alter 
them, he said he wouldn't be contented any other place. 
It was during the Civil War, and after Joe had been 
gone a long time, and the Federal troops had taken 
possession of our place, one day as we all stood talk- 
ing i said to the children, "I wonder if poor Joe is alive! 
if he is, I'm afraid he will come back to us." A few 
minutes later who should enter the gate but Joe with a 
big bag of something over his shoulder. He came with 
a broad grin on his face, and a "Howdy Miss 'Scilla!" and 
set down the bag at my feet. "Here I is at last!" he 
said. '*I done heerd dat Mass Lambert was daid, and 
MiFs Josephine too, so I's come home to help you, I is! 
an' here's some sw^ ^t-taters I brought yer! So he staid, 
and all that win ^e chopped my wood and made my 
fires, and did not want me to pay him a cent. He 
worked in the hospital the rest of the time. When the 
war was ended Joe got his back pay to the amount of 

32 



several hundred dollars. He broucrht it straight to me 
and wanted me to accept it. ''No Joe," I said, *'I can't 
take your money, you have earned it and you must keep 
it yourself." "Well Miss 'Scilla if I was to ^;> an' lea%)€ 
it to ye. would ye be too proud to take it then?'' I re- 
plied "No Joe — Of course not, but I think you'll need 
it all."' Not long after that Joe bade us goodbye and 
left town with a white man, and we never saw him 
again. We always believed he had been murdered tor 
his money. Poor Joe, so good hearted and loyal to our 
family — he deserved a better fate. 

Before I close I want to add a few disconnected 
facts which I have come across in my reading. In 
Howe^s Historical Collections ot Virginia he men.tions 
that in 1776 of the six regiments called out for serv^ice 
Patrick Henry was made Col. of the first and Mordecai 
Buckner of the 6th. In Bishop Mead's "History of the 
old churches and families of Virginia" he says that the 
Vestry books of the old church of Potsworth of Vir- 
ginia, dating from 1754, show the names of four B:ick- 
ners on the list of vestrymen: 

John Buckner, first in the list 1677. 
Thomas Buckner, vestryman in 1707. / 
Samuel Buckner, vestryman m 1737. 
John Buckner, vestryman in 1767. 

Mead says '*The first printing press wasintroduced 
in Virginia in 1682 but quickly suppressed." Jno. Fiske 
in his "Virginia and her Neighbors tells us that it was 
John Buckner whocommitteed the '^"inous sin of print 
ing the laws of the commonwealth outthe permis- 

sion of the Governor, and that he and his printer were 
haled before Lord Culpepber and were put underbonds 
of one hundred lbs sterling to do no more printing un- 

83 



f-^yi O ^ 



til his majesty's pleasure in the matter could be learned 

This is doubtless the first named John Buckner on the i c^c^ ^ 

These detached facts I leave you to ponder over. ' 
How wrt may be related to these older members I do 
not know, but I have lately heard that one of the Vir- 
p^'.i.ja stock is j^athering data for a history of the family 
which I hope m;iy supply the many missing links be- 
tween them and us. 

I leave the genealogical list to be compiled by 
Cousin Kate Tuley. 

Genealogical. 

Tbis is the Thomas Buckner Pedigree as far as known to his 
grandchildren. Mrs. Unetta Chilcis of Frankfort, daughter of 
Thos. Bmrkner's sister, Sally Buckner^ who married Mr. Sutton, 
gives this account obtained from her mother long deceased. In 
Spotsylvania Co. Va., Vvm. Buckner married a Miss Sally Thomas; 
her mother's maiden name was Sally Pendleton who married Ed- 
mund Thomas Jr.y .son of an eminent lawyer, Edmund Thomas 
Sr. This Wm. Buckner was the father of Thomas B. Mrs. Un- 
etta Child's record is a? follows: 

Wm. Buckner \iioxx\^6. Sallie Thomas 

ISSUE lO CHILDREN 

Thomas Buckner born about 1765 or 6, married Hannah Burton, 

1787 — died 1827. 
Wm. Buckner Junior, "went to Nashville." 
George 
Robert 

Johii "died in Bolivia Expedition." 
Ambnise 

Betsy married Mr, ^c. 

Sally married Wm. Sutton, who lived in Shelby viile, Ky., and 

di< d there. 
Kate Bu kner 
Fanny Buckner married Henderson. 

84 



Of these nine brothers and sisters of Thomas Buckner who 
were born, and presumably raised in Spotsylvania Co., Va.. ;r€ 
know n< thing, except in the case of his two sisters; Betsy married 
to Mr. Grant, and Sally marritd to Mr. Sutton — and tbe fact that 
the brother next to Thbmas "went to Nashville." He probably 
emigrated to Kentucky with his brother Thomas, theii weni far- 
ther south to Tennessee. There is a Mr. Matt Buckner living T 
Nashville now, with his son Dr. Matt Buckner, who may be des- 
cendants of Thomas Buckner's brother William. The following is 
the record of Thomas Buckner's children obtained from Mrs. 
Adelaide Defrees of South Bend, Indiana, who had it from her 
motner, Louisa Buckner, one of the youngest daughters of 
Thomas Buckner, who married Mr. Jesse Hughes of Tetinessee. 
If the date of the emigration to Kentucky is correct, r795. tha five 
eldest children of Thomas Buckner must have been born in Vir- 
ginia and the rest in Jeffcson County, Kentucky. This is Mrs. 
Defrees' record of the names and order in which Thomas Buck- 
ner's children were born. The dates of births of a few being 
known, together with the date of marriage of Thomas and Han- 
nah Buckner, the date of birth of the other children is com- 
pleted by allowing one and a half years between each child, as 
tradition asserts. 



Second Qeneratlon from Wm. Buckner and Sall^ Thcmai: 

Thomas Buckner — Born 1766, married Hannah Burton 1787, — 
died 1827. 

ISSUE 

William, born 1788 — married Nancy Bridges, two children, Em- 
ily and Leander Buckner. 

Ambrose, born 1790 — died a young man. 

Katy, born 1791 — died early. 

Robert, born 1792 — married twice. Thomas ""^n of first, died un- 
married, Malinda child of second marri. 

Malinda, born 1794 — married twice, first Bridges, second Crockett. 
No issue. 

Hiram, born 1795 — died unmarried. 

Simeon, born 1797* — married Nancy W. Buckner, died 1843. Issue 
Priscilla, Perry and Josephine Preston. 

35 



Benjamon. born 1798 — married Cordelia Sutton, one child, Mary 
Elien. 

Milton, bom 1800 — married Amanda Dimmet. Issue Mildred and 
Lummious and three infants; second, Juliet Puryear, three 
cbildTen, Wm. Robert Juliet all dead; third wife Mrs. John- 
son, children, Dora, Milton, Sam Glover, Mary, Amanda. 

iniant — 

SECOND GENERATION FROM WM. BUCKNER AND SALLY THOMAS. 

Priscilla Pendleton, born 1803 — married twice, first Coatney Mel- 
mouth Tuley. Issue, Virginia, second Murray Floyd Tuley. 
and third. The* dore and fourth, Isadore twins (died 1886;) 
second married Col. Richard J. Hamilton. No issue. 

Emily, bom 1804 — married Messina Fontaine, died 1834. Issue 
Martha, married Jones, three children. 

Eliz.a. born 1806 — married Francis Henry Edmonson, six children, 
four died infants or unmarried. Katherine E. married Murray 
F. Tuley, living; Louisa E. married Wilson, died i8g8, left 
three children, Murray, Harry E., Kate M. 

Adeline, born 1807 — married Foster, died 1834. 

Thomas, born 1809 — died unmarried. 

Eliphalet, born 1810 — married, one child Betty, married DeGress 

jf Texas. 
Virginia, born 1812 — died young. 

Mary Louisa, born *i8i4 — married Jesse Hughes, four children, 
George died young; Amelia died unmarried; V. Adelaide mar- 
ried Arch, d Defrees. Issue, Lola, unmarried; Jane married 
Birdsill, one child. 

Helena, born 1816 — married first, Clark; second Hoard; one child 
Helena Hoard, married. 

Infant — 

Third Generation From William Buckner and Sally Thomas. 

F'MiLY (daughter of Wm. Buckner) married Wm. Granger, died 

about 1879- 

ISSUE 

Sally, married ^^^.^^eville. Several children living in Louisville. 

Kate, married Dr. Octerlony, President Medical College, Louis- 
ville; died 1899. 

Sons — Leander, Andrew, Albert, Walter. Charles and Joseph. 
Charles married Mrs. Jennie M. Cooke. No issue. A prom- 
inent citizen of Louisville, Kentucky.^ 

- ... -.^^. 

86 r 



Ida, died unmarried. ^ 

Mary married Anderson, several children. 

Leander Buckner, son of Wm. Buckner, married Miss A-?ianth%is 
Shipp. 

ISSUE 

Ewell E. Buckner married Miss McDearmon, lives St. Louis, Mo. 

Edmund Garnett Buckner, married Miss Mary Mardock of Owens- 
boro, Ky. , has been cashier and executive head of National 
Deposit Bank for twenty-four years. Has lately accepted the 
position of President of the Marsden Manufacturing Co., with 
headquarters in Philadelphia and a larg^e salary. A great tri- 
bute to his energy, integrity and business ability. Has one 
living child, Louisa Ewing Buckner. 

Priscilla Aylette. daughter of Simeon Buckner, borii 1821, mat. 
ried Lambert J. Reardon, living in Little Rock. 

ISSUE 

Buckner Reardon, died a bachelor, i8q2. 
Jasres Reardon, died unmarried, 1892. 

Annie Reardon, married Mr. Raleigh, left six sons, died 1895. 
Lallie Reardon, married Dr. Dibrell, President Medical CoUege, 
of Little Rock, died 1899, two sons John and J^mes. 

T^M. Perry Buckner, son of Simeon B., born 1823, United States 
Navy, married Mary Mezick, died i86q. 

ISSUE 

Aylette Buckner, died unmarried 1877, in Chicago. 

Joseph Buckner, died. 

William Buckner, living. 

Perry Buckner entered Naval Academy 1841. after spending some 
years on board different vessels, where ' became proficient 
in Navigation; was for nine or more yea. ..essorof Math- 

ematics at Annapolis Navy Yard, was promoted to Captain 
and two months before his death was put on the retired list. 
He died at Brooklyn Navy Yard 1889, an able officer and a 
man of high character. His letters in the possession of his 
sister Mrs. Priscilla Reardon of Little Rock, from South Af- 

37 



V- 



rica, the Philippines and other places are racy and tren- 
chant and full of interesting facts about the country 
and people, showing that he was a keen and intelligent ob- 
serve/. 

Mildred, daughter of Milton Buckner, married Samuel T. Glove", 

ISSUE 

Fanny D. Glover, married Clark Way of St. Louis. Issue, Glover, 

Clark, Mildred, Betty, all living. 
Samuel Glover, died young . 
John Milton Glover, Attorney at Law. 
Joseph Albert Glover, Bloom field, Mo., Choteau Land Co., 

Bloom field, Mo. 
JarTiCS Lawrence Glover, born 1857 — died 1898. 
Mildred Buckner, born 1857 — married Prosser Ray (issue, Pros- 

ser, Sam Glover) second, Robert Kern, attorney at law. 
Betty Moore Glover, born July 1859 — died 1884. 
Wm. Pike Glover, born 1861 — died 1861. 

Robert Griffith Glover, born 1864 — married Marion Rhodes daugh- 
ter of the Rev. Dr. Rhodes. Issue, Clara, Mildred — Manager 
of Choteau Land Co., Bloomfield, Mo. 

I cannot refrain from a few words here in regard to the hus- 
band of my cousin, Mrs. Glover; herself a woman of strong char- 
acteristics. She was helpmeet to such a man as one may not 
meet once in a life time; like a Damascus blade — fine, strong, 
keen, incisive, supple ; only one of his own type and level could 
describe and interpret him. From his well stored mind treasures 
of knowledge poured forth in conversation with unfailing memory 
and one left his presence enriched and stimulated to new and 
higher thought. Never ponderous or tiring, but flashes of humor 
and drollery, made bim irresistably charming, True and tender 
as husband and fat^ er was he, loyal upright, good and kind. As 
a lawyer he wr lized as one of the greatest in Missouri, if 

not in the entire west. He died January 1884, and we shall not 
see his like again. 

Virginia, daughter of Priscilla (Buckner) Tuley married Carlton 
Holland of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

38 



Issue, Dora Holland ; died young. 

^ Kate Holland, married James Egan attorney and judge. Issue. 

^44..%M Floyd, e a rUop and Frank Egan. "2- ^^m^il 

Helen Irene married Edward Mawsonof New York City. 

T ins i ^s^^^**® married Clark, children of Priscilla -Buckner- Tuley 
^ ) Theodore married — ?died 1901, Isadore died 1900, no issue 

Murray Floyd son of Priscilla (Buckner) Tuley, rjarried Kather- 
ine Edmondson. 

NO ISSUE 

Murray F. Tuley, born in Louisville, Kentucky, 1827, came 
to Chicago 1843, admitted to the bar 1847, same year went as 
lieutenant of Fifth Regiment of Illinois volunteers to Mexican 
War, resigned on treaty of peace 1848, remained in Santa Fe to 
practice law, became Attorney General of Territory in 1849 ^^^ 
*^o, member of the territorial legislature in 1851 and 2, returned to 
Chicago in 1854, was corporation counsel in Chicago from 1869 to 
'73, member of the City Council 1878, elected Judge of Circuit 
Court 1879 ^od has now served on the bench for over 22 years. 
Has refused nomination for State Supreme bench, has twice re- 
fused appointment on Appellate bench, and three times refused to 
run for Mayor under strong party pressure. Is a Democrat and 
is known far and wide as one of the ablest Chancellors on the bench. 

Martha A., daughter of Emily (Buckner) Fontaine, wido,vof Al- 
bert Jones of South Bend, Indiana. 

ISSUE 

Emma Jones, married Simon Lantz, Lansing, Michigan. Issue, 
Florence Lantz. 

Fontaine Jones, married — Attorney at Law, Rosedale, Mississ- 
ippi ; several children. 

Alberta Jones, Principal of a South Bend public school. 

V. Adelaide, daughter of Louisa (Buch.. Hughes inarried 

Arch'd Defrees, South Bend, Ind. 

ISSUE 

Lola Defrees, unmarried, teacher. South Bend, Indiana. 
Jane L. — married John C. Birdsell, Issue one child, John C. 



A few children and grandchildren of Milton Buckner live in 
N. E. Missouri at or near Lewiston, and a few descendants of 
Benjamin Bucknor's daughter Mary Ellen Ferguson, live at Inde- 
pendence and Kansas City. She had two daughters and a son. 
The eldest daughter married Mr. Bryan, the principal of a Ladies' 
SerniD'^ry, and they have a married daughter Mrs. Georgean, liv- 
ing at Kansas City. 

Thos. Buckner's sister's family — 

Sally Bucknt r married Wm. Sutton of Shelby ville, Kentucky. 

ISSUE II CHIDREN 

Demetrius, married Caroline Grant. 

Paulina Virginia, married first, Mc William, second, Hardin. 

Pendleton Lane, no issue. 

Cordelia Frances, married Benjamin Buckner, son of Thomas 

Buckner. 
Jiilen Jane, married Alvin Light ourn. 
Sarah Elizabeth, married Richard P. Lightburn. 
James Monroe, married three times, first Margaret Patterson. 
Temperance Reubena, married Thos. B. Caldwell. 
Willamette, married Wm. Ready. 
Unetta Smith, married Walter Carr Childs, now of Frankfort, 

- Kentucky. 
Juliet, married Dr. Wiiiiam Norton, 

s 

(Sister Thomas 3uekner and Sallie Sutton.) 
Betsy Buckner married Grant. 

ISSUE 

Caroline Grant, married Dsmstrius Sutton, cousins, son of her 

Aunt Sally Sutton. 
Bernard Grant died Oscar Grant, died 

Second Sutton Qeneration. 

Demetrius Suvtc ried Caroline Grant. 

ISSUE 

William, died, John 

Ruth Ellen Elizabeth 

Henry Mary, married a Todd 

Juliet Philip 

40 



Cordelia Frances Sutton, married Benjamin Bucknjr, first 
cousins. 

ISSUE 

Mary Ellen, married Ferj?uson of Montana, three children, Maggy 
eldest, married Mr. Bryan, Principal of Young Ladies' Sem- 
inary, Independence, Missouri. 

Sarah Elizabeth Sutton, married Richard P. Lightburn of 
Louisville. 

ISSUE 

Anna T. Lightburn, married first, Mr. Peters, second, Wm, S. 

Caldwell, first cousms. 
Richard P. Ligbtburn, married, first, Lute Speed, two children, 

Dick and Mamie. Second, Sallie Speed. No issue. 

(Nephew of Thomas Buckner), Second generation of Suttons: 
James Munroe Sutton married first Margaret T. Patterson and 
twice afterwards. 

(Niece of Thomas Buckner), Temperance Reubena Sutton mar- 
ried Thomas B. Caldwell. 

ISSUE 8 

Wm. S. Caldwell, married Anna T. Lightbura of Louisville. 
Mary, married Geo. B Macklin Sally, married Wm. Harbison 
Monroe, married Anna Ferguson Ellen marritd Jas. Gray 
Nettie, married J no. R, Boyd Ben, married Laura Hardin 

George, married Rebecca Glascock 

Williamette Sutton married Wm. Ready. 

ISSUE ONE SON 

William 

(Niece of Thomas Buckner), Unetta S ^""'itton married Walter 
Carr Childs. 

ISSUE 

Sally, married John L. Scott Edward, married Lizzie Water- 

man 
Richard, married Sally Sanders Lcuika, married Sam'l Thomas 

41 



Ellen Emily 

William, died infancy Walter 

Juliet Sutton, married Dr. Wm. Morton. 

ISSUE 6 

Wm, Morior;, married Mary Morton, married Sandusky 

SfiUy Morton, married Mr. Green- Fanny, married Thomasson 

up Bird Ketty 

Emma Ella 

Here also is the family record of Capt. Philip Buckner, but no( 
the Philir Buckrer who was grandfather to Cousin Priscilla Rear- 
don. This was obtained through the kindness of Mr J. N. Barker of 
Chicago, (Atbrney at Law) whose uncle Judge Buckner Stith 
Morris, was the son of Frances Buckner, a daughter of Captain 
Philip Buckrier, both of them natives of Kentucky. Judge Morris 
an old resid nt of Chicago died here over twenty years ago. Cap- 
tain Philip Buckner was said to have been an Ecglishman and 
Captain of a sailing vessel. In the notice of Judge Buckner Mor- 
ris' death it wa5; said he married 'a daughter of Philip Buckner 
vho served as captain in the revolutionarywar;'' but fnm what 
I can gather, he was probat-ly commissary with the title of cap- 
tain, and was paid for his services by large grants of land in east- 
ern Kentucky ana Southern Ohio. In Kentucky he founded the 
town of Angusta. Sumo interesting stories are told of him, show- 
in;< him to be generous, jovial, lavish in hospitality and very or- 
iginal and eccentric. The record runs thus- 
Pbihp, son of John and Sarah Buckner, born 1747— married Tabie 

Ann Daniel. 

ISSUE 

Samuol. born 1773 — married Susan Evans 1793, Issue Coleman B. 
Betf,y, burn 1776 — married Jno. Bianchard 1793. No issue. 
Polly, born 1788— ma^ -' Willis Hoard 1793. issue. Lucy, Thomas 

Craddock.^ rr / l^ > 

i^PhTijp Buckner, Betsy. Polly, Willis, Jno. Willis. J^) ./ ^^J^^-^JS^^^^-C-- 
William, born 17S0— married Lucy M. Taliafrrro. i799- Issue, 

Philip Johnson, Anna W\, Jane Champ, Wm. Thornton, four 

children. 

42 




J c- 



\ 



<. 



Frances, born 1782 — married Dickinson Morris 1799. Issue, John, 

Buckner Stith Morris, Polly, Betsy, Philip and Susan, six 
children. 

Sally Buckner, born 1786 — married John Pickett 1801, second mar- 
ried Mayfield. Issue, Emily and William Mayfielo. 

Bnsan Buckner, born 1789 — married Jno. Champ Taliaferro 1808, 
Issue, Jno. Champ, Tabie Ann Eliza; (married second) Wm. 
Orr. Issue, Lucy, Margaret, Wm. Wilson ar.d Philip Buck- 
ner Orr. 

John Buckner, bom 1791 — married Martha Jones Buckner 18 17. 
issue Virginia, Susan. Francis, Robert, Frank, MarjrT^Martha;^ 
Upshui\and Clementine, 9. 

Tradition says that Thomas Buckner had an uncle or great 
uncle named Philip Buckner, and this Captain Philip ma/ have 
been the man. On the margin of this record it is stated that Capt. 
Philip Buckner had also a son named Nicholas whose daughter mar-''' 
ried Col. Richard J. Hamilton of Chicago, with issue of three chil- 
dren, Sarah. Ellen, Diana. After the death if his first wife Col. t 
Hamilton married twice; the third wife being Mrs. Priscilla 
P. Tuley, (nee Buckner) who had been his first sweetheart, and ^ 
who was the mother of Judge M. F. Tuley of Chicago. 

This Nicholas Buckner is undoubtedly the same old Indian QlV 
fighter who told the story of the Chineworth Spring massa'ore as 
related by Cousin Priscilla Reardon. He claimed kin with the 
family but she does not know how he was related. If he was th© 
brother of Wm. Buckner, Senior, (the father to Thomas) then he 
would have been uncle to Thomas and great uncle to her father 
Simeon Buckner, which seems probable. Many important offices 
in Eastern Kentucky were filled by the family of Philip Buckner. 
It is said that his last act was to invite the neighborhood to a great 
feast, and though ill, he presided at the head of the table. *Eat 
my friends," he said, "It does me good to see you enjoy your- 
selves though I cannot join you." The next morning he was fouud 
sleeping the sleep that knows no waking by ^he side of his wife, ^ 
dying as he said he should, and at the time, without disturbing ^^_^ 
anyone. Dr. Philip Buckner who died in Cincinnati some 10 or m/frr 
more years ago, was probably the son of Captain Philip's ^ Wil- 
liam, who married Lucy Taliaferro, in 1799, though he may have 
been the grandsonrx grt^^^^ f 





To you of the rising generation of our family I wish to say 
that you come of agfod. pourd stock not titled or particularly 
brilliant periiaps, but so far as I can learn, they have for the most 
part belonged tc that sturdy middle < lass which is always and 
everywhere the backbone of the social system and the bulwark of 
national greatness. See that you keep it clean and make it re- 
ve'.ed. A few Buckners have distinguised themselves here and 
there and there aie doubtlers those who have disgraced their kin, 
but on the whole they have been a self-respecting and honest 
people, with proper pride of character which would not let them 
do a mean thing, doing their duty in the station to which they are 
called as private citizens or public officials. 

How e'er it be it seems to me 
Tis only noble to hQ good ; 

Kind hearts are more than coronets 
And simple faith than Norman blood. 

One of your kin, 
KATHERINE EDMONDSON TULEY. 



\ 



\ 



ILafC. 



44 










^ 

I:: 







^ 



^ 



^ \ 






^^^ 






cc 



c 

. 4 



'^ 4i K i^ <* ^ 
b-- -^ ci § ,^ 






cjii 



•x 






( 

♦ ft 






r 



75 






t 









4£ 



^- 



f^'t^ 






4; 






<u 



• INI 






^"^V 


^ 


s^i 


^ 
^ 








^ 

^ 












T 


















<q^ C^ 









It 



^^ 



^ 






Of 



1 -^^ ^/^> r^ 






.-^^fe ^.v;^^- 



^■ 



<i 



^^&- '^^ 



a:: 



i_^ 



Hi 



'^ 






ft 









w 



CO 






ni 



CO 






-^"^ ^ 4 y 

r^ :si Vi ^cs Q 



\ 



Ci-j^ R^ 



Ka^ 











V 


4. A/ 






' 


>- '^ -i^^^PN 




i 




1 




3 


^ -f^ sQ 




/*. 




sK .^ P: -^ 




nt^ 








^ ^ 


t 


^ . 2 


I 


I ? 


^ 


^ r^ >- 


C" 


K <^ 




vL 'r. -^ 


^^ 






^ ^ ^ 










^* f^' 












^ 



rs 



G 



Pi 






^ 

.i^. 
'S 

^ 

n 

? 

^ 



I 






C3' 









N 



Q; 












1 






4 r\ 
re; >N 













^2 






S 









I 



c«5 









r^ 






Ci:^ 






4j ,... 



(5c 



X 









0/ •: 






t: 



ts 



^L' 









^ 









^ CO 






ft?- ^ 



V 







p 






^ 



3: 



r 









c^' 






< 



si 






>^ 






^ 






^^ 



•^ 



JS t** >^- '=^ 



Co 






I 



oi 












u . I 



^1 

T 






k^ 






r 














Co 






<^ "^ v)r 



f^^ 
^ 









IN 

^1 



I c 






N 



u; 






^ ^ 
,^(< 






^ 









^ \ 






■^ 



n 



re 






ui^^ 12, •:: 



cd 



4 



wr' 



»xm»jm»«^»j«i— M*i ,t i,,A,.>.wAa^^..^.^..i.»^.^^i^^ 






"'ci^ ■>■ 



^^ 









<\ 



v-^^ 








O N O ,^U ^ » , 1 



y 









t 

*• (if/ 




0' 



» / T 



r^ 







.0^ 







^ 



^ 





o 



O K O 






^O^^ 



, <2> o ° " ° ^ "^^ 








.0^ 






s * * , fv O^ - ■< ■> O - ^ ■% V ^ ' 






'^' 






^//isf : ^ ^c. 






7r: ^/ 






<r. 



o\ 



\ 



'^> 






> \} c^ ' ' '^ O 



* ^ . o -^ 
















O M O ' ■-> 



v^\' 



^o. 



,^0 



.'^^ 



^, 



rCi. 



\V s • • 







I 






<> 






^ 



\ 5 • o 






X'k 'Mm 







h 





